Loose-leaf binder.



L. M. MORDEN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1911.

Patented Sept. 3,1912.

WITNESSES W @ZM,

Ill/VENTOR Lace/2a Mil/angle ATTORNEY LUCENA-M. MORDEN, or -WA'IERBURY, connncrrour.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Application filed March 31, 1911. Serial No. 618,058. 7

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUCENA M. Monnmv,

a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose- Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders, the object of the invention being the production of a binder of this class capable of holding independent sets of leaves so that when the binder or the book is opened the leaves will lie fiat.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved binder ofthis character extremely simple in its construction andhin which the holding rings may be shifted or adjusted so as to properly position the same to accommodate leaveswhich may be improperly perforated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved binder of the class described specially constructed to permit the same to be used with slot-ted leaves, without .the necessity of complicating the device by providing means for opening and closing the rings.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved binder of the character described having what is termed,

herein solid, integral or one-piece rings as contra-distinguished from those forms of rings of one guide may be located'in any desired position relatively to the rings of its companion guide or bar, each 'set or row of rings known as separable ringsor prongs,

' and which rings are supported by a flexible member, whereby the leaves of the book will be carried in independent sets.'

In the-drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating one of these improved binders; Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view illustrating one of the sets of rings; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of therings;-Fig. 4 is a view of one of the slott ed'sheets; and Fig. 5 illustrates a por-' tion of the flexible back member.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout. the drawmgs. a

In one embodlment herein shown and 'described, the binder compr1ses covers 2 connected by a suitable flexible back 3 to permit 'the covers to be opened and closed. Inside of this back is a supplemental back portion tion.

very much less e 4 of some suitable flexible material, and con-.-

between. Each of these metal strips forms a guideway for the rings 7, and the several metal strips are located at predetermined distances apart. Instead of the metal strips obviously the flexible back could be formed in ridges or ribs, especially if some suitable relnforcmg material, as a wlre or other structure, is located thereln to give 1t sufficient rigidity and stability. In the present instance the metal strips are shown as of dove-tail form for the reception of the solid rings 7 which are split to receive the guide strip and grip the same with a spring ac.- It will be observed that the rings shown herein have considerable width, so that each has a wide bearing engagement with its guide and is therefore permanently maintained upright against sidewisev swinging movement. 'By this construction it will be observed that the rings may be adjusted or shifted longitudinally of the strip to properly position. them according to the distances between-the slots of the leaves 10,

which slots are shown as T-shaped slots 11,

' whereby they may be readily insert-ed on to the rings Without the necessity of dividing- I or separating the rings as heretofore. Each guidecarrie's a plurality of rings, and. the

the companion sets of sheets. By this con struction I am able to provide a binder in which the sheets'or pages of the book may be readily opened so as to lie fiat, while at the same time the structure is very much simplified in its construction and therefore nsive' to manufacture, as well as much stronger and more durable in use and much more quickly and easily operated than bindershere'tofore constructed,

while the leaves, can be removed instantly,

since it is unnecessary to manipulate the rings so asto open or close the same. I

As hereinbefore stated, -the flexible back member could be formed in ridges or ribs,

- and each split at its underside to grip its especially if some suitable reinforcing material such as wire or otherwise is located thereln to give it suflicient rigidity and stability, this being necessary when the back member is made of cloth or leather, but

-When made of 'metal, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, these ribs or ridges will. constitute the guides without the necessity of any reinforcing material whatever. In Fig. 5 this flexible back member 4 is shown made of metal comprising a series of hingeo.

plates or members 15 having integral por-.

tions thereof bent upward to form longitudinally extending bars, ribs or projections 16 for the reception of the rings. Byv making the back member in the form shown it can be readily expanded ordecreased merely by adding or removing one or more of the hinged plates thereby to" increase or decrease the size of the book. I claim as my invention: I

1. :A loose leaf blnder comprising a flexible member having a plurality of longituditable and transverse movement.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising a flexi ble member having a plurality of longitudinally extending guides and a'p'lurality of integral rings carried by each of said guides guide and shiftablealong said guide. I

3.- A loose leaf binder comprising a flexiblemember having a plurality of longitudinally extending guides each constructed to hold its rings a'gainst rotation and transverse movement relatively to such guide, ,and a plurality'of integral nonrotatahle rings each split at its underside to directly grip its guide with a spring action and adapted for the reception of slotted leaves "withoutthe opening of said rings and each having a 'wide bearing surface upon its guide whereby sidewise swingingmovement ofthe ring is prevented and such ring permanently maintained upright on its guide.

4. A loose leaf binder comprising a flexible member having a plurality of ldngitudi nally extending guides-each carrvinga plu-' ralitv of integral rings eachsplit at its undersidedirectly to engage its guide with a spring action and shiftable along its guide.

and leaves slotted for? insertion onto said rings without the opening of said rings. '5. A loose leafbinder comprising a. fiex1-.

ble'member having a longitudinally extending guide constructed @130 hold its rings against rotation -and transverse movement integral non-rotatable rings each split at ble member made up of a plurality of hinged relatively to such guide, and a plurality of its underside to directly engage its guide, each of said rings having a wide bearing surface upon its guide whereby sidewise swingingmo vement of the ring is prevented and such ring permanently maintained upright on its guide.

6. A loose leaf binder comprising a fiexi- V ble member having a plurality of longitudi-' nally extending dovetail-shaped guides each carrying a plurality of integral rings each split at its underside directly to engage its guide with a spring action and shiftable along the same.

7. A loose leaf binder comprising a fleximembers having longitudinally extending guides each carrying a plurality of rings.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising a fie'xible member made up'of a plurality of'hinged members having longitudinally extending guides each carrying a plurality of integral rings.

9. A loose leaf binder comprising a fiexible member made up of a plurality of hinged members having integral projections forming longitudinally extending guides each carrying a plurality of'integral rings. 10. A loose leaf; binder comprising a flexible member made up of a plurality of hinged members having integral projections forming longitudinally extending guides each carrying a plurality of integral rings shiftable along said guides.

11. A loose leaf binder oomprising a flexible member made up of'a plurality of hinged members havin integralprojections .forming longitudinally extending guides each carrying, a plurality of integral rings shiftable along 'said guides, and leaves slotted for insertion on to said rings without the opening of said rings. 12. A loose leaf binder comprising a flexible metal me'mbermade up of a plurality of hinged'plat'es whereby the structure may be readily-expanded or decreased in size by the addition or detachment of one-or more of.

such members, said flexible member having a plurality of longitudinally 1 extending guides, and rings carried by'said' guidesf '13. A loose leaf binder comprising a flexible metal membermade up ofa plurality of hinged plates whereby the structure may be readily expanded or decreased in size by the addition or detachment of one or more of such members, said 'flexible' member having a plurality of longitudinally extending guides, and integral rings carrled by-sa1d guides -for the reception of slotted leaves without the opening of said rings.

14. A loose leaf binderhavmg'a 'flexible back'imembe'r made .up of'a plurality: of p hinged plates. whereby the structure niay be Signed at 1821 Park Row Building, New

readily expanded 1(1):n decresed in size byv th; York,- N. Y., this 28th day of March, 1911. addition or detac ent 0 one 01' more 0 I such plates each of said plates having means li M 5 extending lengthwise of the plate and pro- \Vitnesses:

jecting above the surface thereof for the re- F. E. BOYCE, 4

" ception bf integral rings. GEORGE F. PURCE L. 

